1.Prevention and Treatment of Lung Cancer by Traditional Chinese Medicine Targeting Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway: A Review
Maofu ZHANG ; Zhiming ZHANG ; Zhongyang SONG ; Qian XU ; Jialin ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):262-270
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, with its morbidity and mortality ranking at the top. The early symptoms are not obvious, and the biological structure is complex, so many patients have missed the optimal treatment time. At present, the treatment of lung cancer in modern medicine is dominated by first-line chemotherapy and surgical treatment with platinum-containing regimen, which has relatively large side effects, poor prognosis, and a high risk of metastasis and recurrence. With the gradual rise of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for lung cancer, the overall recovery of patients with lung cancer is still poor and the survival rate is low, despite more abundant treatment methods. From the perspective of holistic concept and syndrome differentiation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the prognosis of tumor patients, with many targets, a wide range and light toxic and side effect. Modern studies have shown that the occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely related to the abnormality of multiple signaling pathways, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as one of the most important pathways in cancer, is involved in the whole process of lung cancer development by regulating the expression of related signaling proteins and genes. In recent years, many studies have confirmed that TCM monomers and TCM compounds can inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of lung cancer and the activity of lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs) by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, induce lung cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells, and thus play an anti-lung cancer role. In recent years, research in this field has made breakthroughs, but there is a lack of systematic reviews and summaries. Thus, this paper reviewed relevant literature worldwide to analyze and interpret the mechanism of TCM intervention in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway against lung cancer. The TCM monomers targeted to regulate this signaling pathway were summarized in four categories: promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis, clearing heat and removing dampness, clearing heat and removing toxicity, and awakening the spirit. TCM compounds included Buzhong Yiqitang, Xuefu Zhuyutang, et al. This study aims to provide new ideas for clinical research and drug development for lung cancer.
2.Regulatory Mechanism of Mitochondrial Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Lulu CHEN ; Yuchan CHEN ; Zhongyang SONG ; Haihong ZHAO ; Maofu ZHANG ; Zhiming ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(14):259-269
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, with hidden symptoms, complex pathogenesis, high morbidity, high mortality, and poor prognosis. As one of the classical apoptosis pathways, mitochondrial apoptosis has been widely described in the apoptosis escape by GC cells. Mitochondrial apoptosis can regulate the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of GC cells via oxidative stress, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial translocation and other mechanisms, and it is one of the potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention to restore the mitochondrial function in GC. The theory of spleen-mitochondria in correlation explains that spleen deficiency and cancer toxin are the root causes of mitochondrial apoptosis. Accordingly, the TCM treatment should follow the basic principle of invigorating spleen to restore healthy Qi and removing cancer toxin to eliminate the root cause. Mitochondrial apoptosis can be promoted by inhibiting oxidative stress, promoting cell cycle arrest, and reducing mitochondrial membrane potential. This therapy can improve the energy metabolism, restore the mitochondrial structure and function, and prevent the occurrence and development of GC, with mild side effects and low drug resistance. However, the mechanism of mitochondrial apoptosis in GC and the target of TCM intervention in GC have not been systematically reviewed. Therefore, this paper systematically summarized the effects of mitochondrial apoptosis on the occurrence and development of GC and the role of TCM in the treatment of GC by intervening in mitochondrial apoptosis, aiming to provide a theoretical reference for the treatment and further research of GC.